Feeling bad having to take time off work

[Zstar]

Good evening,

Anyone else feel bad for having to take so much time off work. I am not well again and hate having to take so much time off work but know that I am not well enough to go 😞

[flossiew]

You're not alone 😕 I had time off in November and January as my asthma was playing up due to yet another chest infection, and I should have been off in December too but struggled into work as I felt so bad having had so much time off sick. It was probably detrimental to my health though as I didn't give myself enough time to recover between flares. Try not to go out yourself under pressure to be at work - easier said than done though...

[Zstar in reply to flossiew]

Thank you foossiew, it’s so hard isn’t it, you know what’s right deep down but you still Give yourself a hard time.

[Tinytune]

My husband has been off since December, Dr has now said he can do a phased return but has to work from home just the equivalent of one day a week, luckily with his job if I go and collect his work and then return it he can do so from home.

[Zstar in reply to Tinytune]

Tiny tune sounds like your husbands work are supportive and that he is very lucky to have you to help him pick up the work

[ChrissieMons]

Guilt is not going to help you get better. You need to learn to relax and think only about the things which will help you get well - taking the meds, good diet and all that. Let other people look after you if you can. You can return the favour if they're poorly. You have to be well in body and mind with asthma. I know it is easier said than done, but I think you need to give it a try.

[Zstar in reply to ChrissieMons]

Chrissiemons you are completely right, just sometimes it hard not to give yourself a hard time isn’t it !

[Superzob]

Feeling like that means you are a dedicated and responsible individual, and they should be glad to have you working for them when you can and are well.

I became chronically ill 24 years ago and coped pretty well until my last four years at work when I was off sick so much I only worked 3 of them! I eventually became so embarrassed that I phoned my boss up and told him that I was fed up having to delegate my work to others and cancelling appointments at short notice. I told him I wanted to take early retirement and he said "Are you sure? I would much rather have you still working as much as you can, than feel you have to retire through no fault of your own".

When I did eventually retire, I hadn't been to the office for almost a year and felt rather embarrassed about coming in to celebrate. I made a point of apologising to my teammates for having to pass work to them when I was away; quite genuinely, nobody seemed to have been the least put out.

I had also been doing private maths tuition and had to drop out on occasions because of repeated illness. I was concerned about the impression I might give if I had to explain my problems. Then a psychologist told me "Why don't you just tell the client that you have this problem - you'd be surprised how understanding people can be". And she was right - I even got called back for further tuition years later!

So I wouldn't worry about - if you're honest about your circumstances, my experience is that people will understand, and there's no need feel bad about taking time off for a genuine reason.

[Zstar in reply to Superzob]

Thank you superzob, it’s really difficult when you have to keep taking time off isn’t it. I am glad that you have been able to take up the maths tuition. You are completely right honesty is always the best policy and you can only do what you can do 😊